7.2. New Layer

The New Layer… command opens the “Create
a New Layer” dialog that allows you to add a new, empty
layer to the layer stack of the image, just above the active layer.

7.2.1. Activating the Command

You can access this command from the image menubar through
Layer → New Layer…,
or by clicking on the dedicated button in the layer dialog.

7.2.2. Description of the “New Layer” Dialog

Figuur 16.100. The “New Layer” dialog

Under the title “Create a new layer” you can see the name
of the image for that you create this new layer and next to the title
a thumbnail of it. That is interesting to see if you have selected the
good image when there is more than one image open.

Layer Name

The name of the new layer. It does not have any functional
significance; it is simply a convenient way for you to remember
the purpose of the layer. The default name is “New
Layer”. If a layer with the name you choose already
exists, a number is automatically appended to it to make it
unique (e.g., “New Layer#1”) when you click on the
OK button.

Color tag

If you click on one of these color buttons, the "Eye" icon box
of the created layer will have this color. This is interesting
when you have many layers in the image.

Mode

Default is “Normal”. The drop-down list offers all
layer blend modes. On the right, another drop-down list to select
between “Default” or “Legacy” group
of modes.

The layer's mode (sometimes
referred to as its “blend mode”: Normal, Multiply,
etc.) determines how the color values of the
layer and its backdrop are combined, while the layer's composite mode determines how the
alpha values of the layer and its backdrop
are combined. (The layer's backdrop is the content against which
the layer is composited; namely, it's the combination of the layers
below it.)

There are two regions of interest when compositing the layer
against its backdrop: the opaque region of the backdrop, and the
opaque region of the layer. The layer's blend mode determines how
to combine the colors of the intersection of
these two regions: i.e., the common opaque region of both
the backdrop and the layer (pixels belonging to only one of these
regions don't need to be combined with anything, and retain their
original color.). The layer's composite mode determines which part
of these regions to keep, and which to discard.

The example images below show the composition of two layers -- the
bottom layer containing a red feathered circle, and the top layer
containing a green feathered circle -- using
“Addition” mode, and different composite modes
(applied to the top layer).

Union:
keeps the opaque regions of both the layer and its backdrop,
i.e their union.

Figuur 16.101. “Union” option example

Clip to backdrop:
keeps only the opaque regions of the backdrop (this includes
the common opaque region to both the backdrop and the layer i.e
their intersection).

Figuur 16.102. “Clip to backdrop” option example

Clip to layer:
keeps only the opaque region of the layer (this includes
the common opaque region to both the backdrop and the layer,
i.e their intersection).

Figuur 16.103. “Clip to layer” option example

Intersection:
keeps only the opaque region to both the backdrop and the
layer, i.e their intersection.

Figuur 16.104. “Intersection” option example

Auto:
“Auto” mode is not a separate composite mode, but
rather corresponds to one of the other composite modes,
depending on the layer's blend mode: for “Normal”,
“Dissolve”, and “Merge”, it
corresponds to “Union”, and for the other modes
(that support different composite modes) it corresponds to
“Clip to Backdrop”.

Composite space

Default is “Auto”. In the drop-down list, you can
choose between “RGB linear” and “RGB
perceptual”.

The dimensions of the new layer. When the dialog appears, the
values are initialized to the dimensions of the image. You can
change them by using the two text boxes. You can also change
the units in the pull-down menu to the right.

Offset X; Y

The origin of the new layer is the upper left corner of the
image. Here, you can set precisely the position of layers smaller
than the canvas, especially text layers.

Fill With

There are five options for the solid color that fills the layer:
the current Foreground color,
the current Background color,
White, Transparency, and
Pattern.